Criminal Justice

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7126: Relates to bail for certain offenses involving the sale or possession with intent to sell of a controlled substance or a synthetic opioid

Authorizes the imposition of bail for certain offenses involving the sale or possession with intent to sell of a controlled substance or a synthetic opioid.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRequires bail for drug offenses, increasing pretrial detention and restricting defendant rights, aligning with oppose indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4398: Relates to an annual report of department statistics

This bill (S 4398) requires New York's Department of Corrections to submit an annual report by March 31st starting in 2026. The report must detail every death of an incarcerated person in state facilities, including cause of death, demographics (age, race, gender), facility details, and circumstances like disciplinary confinement or specialized care. For deaths resulting from suicide or specific categories, a preliminary report must be provided within seven days, followed by a final report after the investigation concludes. The data must include trend analysis compared to historical statistics to improve transparency around prison mortality. The bill directly affects the state correction department and its reporting obligations to legislative leaders and committees.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates detailed reporting on incarcerated deaths to enhance transparency and oversight in corrections, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of accountability and data-driven policy improvements.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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passed · New York · Senate May 13, 2026

S 7810: Relates to reporting requirements for temporary release programs

Adds additional information to reporting requirements for temporary release programs including the number of incarcerated individuals denied participation in each temporary release program and the reasons for denial.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds transparency to denials in temporary release programs, supporting oversight and reform through detailed reporting requirements.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1684: Establishes a special prosecutor to investigate and prosecute matters involving the death of an unarmed civilian caused by a law enforcement officer

This bill establishes a special prosecutor appointed by the governor to investigate and prosecute cases where an unarmed civilian dies due to a police officer's actions. The special prosecutor, serving a 3-year term, replaces local district attorneys in these cases and must dedicate full time to such investigations. They are required to conduct independent reviews - including evidence gathering and witness interviews - and submit detailed reports to the governor and legislature when declining to pursue charges or when grand juries refuse indictments. The special prosecutor’s role takes effect 60 days after the bill becomes law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates independent special prosecutor for police-involved civilian deaths, enhancing law enforcement accountability and criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6352: Relates to racial and ethnic impact statements on bills

This bill, the "racial and ethnic equity act" (A 6352), requires New York State to create racial and ethnic impact statements for certain bills that may affect correctional, public assistance, or child welfare systems. Before such bills can be considered by a committee, designated state agencies (like the Division of Criminal Justice Services for criminal justice bills) must prepare statements analyzing how a bill could change the racial and ethnic makeup of these populations using data and statistics. The statements must show whether a bill would disproportionately impact minority groups and cover at least three years of projected effects. This applies to bills that could increase incarceration, change penalties, alter public assistance access, or affect child welfare systems.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires racial/ethnic impact statements for bills affecting correctional systems, promoting equity analysis to prevent disproportionate impacts in criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill A 6352 requires racial and ethnic impact statements for bills affecting public assistance and child welfare systems, indirectly protecting immigrant communities from potentially harmful legislation.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 848: Relates to bail and domestic violence charges

This bill requires courts to specifically consider domestic violence charges when setting bail for defendants. It mandates that judges evaluate factors like prior domestic violence arrests, existing orders of protection, and history of violence against family or household members as part of bail decisions. The law directly affects defendants charged with domestic violence crimes and the courts determining their bail conditions. Courts must now document why they believe a defendant poses a flight risk and justify their chosen bail terms, including how domestic violence history influenced the decision. This changes existing bail procedures by making domestic violence a required consideration, not just one factor among many.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates courts to consider domestic violence history in bail decisions, enhancing victim safety and court accountability in criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 781: Establishes rehabilitation programs within secure treatment facilities for persistent criminal offenders who have been convicted of ten or more violent criminal offenses

Establishes rehabilitation programs within secure treatment facilities for persistent criminal offenders who have been convicted of ten or more violent criminal offenses; establishes eligibility criteria for rehabilitation programs, including requiring a hearing and finding by the court that demonstrates that the persistent criminal offender's criminal pattern and risk to public safety or themselves.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes rehabilitation programs for violent offenders requiring court-reviewed risk assessment, directly promoting recidivism reduction and evidence-based criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3918: Relates to the modification of the procedure for interviews of parole applicants and to the disclosure of parole applicant records

S 3918 modifies New York State's parole process by requiring a 3-month advance in-person interview (recorded audio-visually) for parole applicants, replacing a prior one-month timeline. It mandates that applicants review their full parole file one month before hearings and requires the parole board to provide detailed, written reasons for denials - including specific requirements for reconsideration - within 24 months. The bill also standardizes disclosure of mental health records (unless harm is likely) and ensures victims receive certain information upon request, while clarifying conditions for release like voting rights restoration.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances parole transparency and applicant rights via extended interview timelines, mandatory file review, and detailed denial reasons - aligning with criminal justice reform goals like due process and reduced recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Probation & Parole

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2481: Establishes the crime of aggravated offering of a false accusation against a police officer or peace officer

Establishes the crime of aggravated offering of a false accusation against a peace officer or police officer for knowingly reporting false or baseless information relating to wrongdoing by a police or peace officer to a law enforcement agency; creates a private right of action for damages.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill criminalizes false accusations against officers, potentially deterring legitimate misconduct reports and weakening police oversight mechanisms.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4127: Creates the New York state social impact bond initiative

Establishes a statewide pilot program modeled after the NYC social impact bond project to lower recidivism and improve the lives of 16-18 year olds in New York's correctional facilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly targets reducing recidivism and improving rehabilitation for youth in correctional facilities through a social impact bond pilot program, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

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